Dr Lea Dousset
Dr

Lea Dousset

Email: 

Background

I am a clinician-scientist specialising in oncodermatology, with a focus on skin cancers, translational research, and metabolism-driven carcinogenesis. My work bridges clinical dermatology and cancer research, aiming to improve patient outcomes through innovative therapeutic strategies.

I trained in dermatology and cancerology, completing rotations in oncology, radiotherapy, haematology, and oncodermatology at leading institutions, including the Institut Gustave Roussy (France). My research initially focused on energy metabolism rewiring in UVB-induced carcinogenesis, contributing to key publications (Cell Reports, 2018; Oncogenesis, 2019: Free Radicals Biology & Medicine, 2025). I leaded the MITOSKIN project, investigating metabolic and histological profiles across different stages of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and finished my PhD in 2022.

Since January 2023, I have been a postdoctoral research fellow at the Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, under Prof. Kiarash Khosrotehrani. My current research focuses on solid organ transplant recipients at high risk of aggressive skin cancers. I am coordinating two major translational studies (Siroskin and CetPro), investigating targeted therapies, biomarkers, and novel prevention strategies.

My goal is to translate scientific discoveries into clinical applications, advancing personalised treatment approaches for high-risk patients.

Availability

Dr Lea Dousset is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Diploma of Medicine, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
  • Advanced Diploma of Dematology and Venereology, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
  • Advanced Diploma of Oncology and Carcinogenesis, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
  • Postgraduate Diploma of Palliative Care Nursing, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Cellular Biology and Microbiology, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2

Research impacts

As an early-career postdoctoral research fellow, I lead a translational research program focused on developing novel therapeutic strategies for aggressive skin cancers, particularly in high-risk populations such as solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs). My work integrates clinical trial management, biomarker discovery, and targeted therapies to improve cancer prevention and treatment.

I have made substantial contributions to the field of oncodermatology, particularly in cancer metabolism, tumour immunology, and drug resistance mechanisms. My research has resulted in peer-reviewed publications, industry partnerships, and clinical trials, including:

  • Siroskin (Phase III trial): Evaluating topical mTOR inhibitors for skin cancer prevention.
  • CetPro (Phase II trial): Investigating a Cetuximab-Prochlorperazine combination for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

With 40 publications indexed in Scopus (January 2025), an h-index of 14, and 906 citations, my research is widely recognised, with 58% of my papers published in top-quartile journals and a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 1.79. I led the MITOSKIN biobank, enabling molecular profiling of cSCCs, and pioneered the first genomic sequencing collaboration between my research teams.

By leveraging genomic profiling, spatial transcriptomics, and immunotherapeutic strategies, my research is shaping new cancer treatment paradigms and improving outcomes for high-risk patients worldwide.

Search Professor Lea Dousset’s works on UQ eSpace

45 works between 2015 and 2025
All (45) Journal Article (42) Conference Publication (3)

1 - 20 of 45 works

2025

Journal Article

Immune signatures across different stages of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Favot-Laforge, Laure, Muzotte, Elodie, Mahfouf, Walid, Rambert, Jerome, Cario, Muriel, Moisan, François, Dousset, Lea and Rezvani, Hamid-Reza (2025). Immune signatures across different stages of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Journal of Dermatological Science. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2025.03.002

Immune signatures across different stages of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

2025

Journal Article

Energy metabolism rewiring following acute UVB irradiation is largely dependent on nuclear DNA damage

Dousset, Léa, Mahfouf, Walid, Younes, Hadi, Fatrouni, Hala, Faucheux, Corinne, Muzotte, Elodie, Khalife, Ferial, Rossignol, Rodrigue, Moisan, François, Cario, Muriel, Claverol, Stéphane, Favot-Laforge, Laure, Nieminen, Anni I., Vainio, Seppo, Ali, Nsrein and Rezvani, Hamid-Reza (2025). Energy metabolism rewiring following acute UVB irradiation is largely dependent on nuclear DNA damage. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 227, 459-471. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.12.030

Energy metabolism rewiring following acute UVB irradiation is largely dependent on nuclear DNA damage

2024

Journal Article

A new frontier in drug discovery for skin cancer through electronic medical records

Dousset, Lea and Khosrotehrani, Kiarash (2024). A new frontier in drug discovery for skin cancer through electronic medical records. British Journal of Dermatology, 192 (4) ljae489, 570-571. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljae489

A new frontier in drug discovery for skin cancer through electronic medical records

2024

Journal Article

Trial protocol for SiroSkin: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of topical sirolimus in chemoprevention of facial squamous cell carcinomas in solid organ transplant recipients

Dousset, Lea, Chambers, Daniel C., Webster, Angela, Isbel, Nicole, Campbell, Scott, Duarte, Carla, Collins, Louisa, Damian, Diona, Tseng, Anne, Karlsen, Emma, Ilinsky, Olga Victoria, Brown, Susan, Schaider, Helmut, Soyer, H. Peter, Ospino, Daniel Ariza, Hogarth, Sam, Chong, Alvin H., Mar, Victoria, McKenzie, Scott, Gin, Douglas, Fernandez-Penas, Pablo, Kern, Johannes S., Loewe, Katja, Roy, Edwige, Herschtal, Alan and Khosrotehrani, Kiarash (2024). Trial protocol for SiroSkin: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of topical sirolimus in chemoprevention of facial squamous cell carcinomas in solid organ transplant recipients. Trials, 25 (1) 789. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-08619-3

Trial protocol for SiroSkin: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of topical sirolimus in chemoprevention of facial squamous cell carcinomas in solid organ transplant recipients

2024

Journal Article

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cancers: treatment optimization – part II

Ferrer, Florent, Tetu, Pauline, Dousset, Léa, Lebbe, Céleste, Ciccolini, Joseph, Combarel, David, Meyer, Nicolas, Paci, Angelo and Bouchet, Stéphane (2024). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cancers: treatment optimization – part II. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 200 104385, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104385

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cancers: treatment optimization – part II

2024

Journal Article

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Cancers: treatment optimization – Part I

Combarel, David, Dousset, Léa, Bouchet, Stéphane, Ferrer, Florent, Tetu, Pauline, Lebbe, Céleste, Ciccolini, Joseph, Meyer, Nicolas and Paci, Angelo (2024). Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Cancers: treatment optimization – Part I. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 199 104384, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104384

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Cancers: treatment optimization – Part I

2024

Journal Article

Improved survival over time with immunotherapy in locally advanced and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas

Schneider, Sophie, Ferte, Thomas, Ducharme, Océane, Dousset, Léa, Prey, Sorilla, Dutriaux, Caroline, Gerard, Emilie, Beylot-Barry, Marie and Pham-Ledard, Anne (2024). Improved survival over time with immunotherapy in locally advanced and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 150 (3) 133, 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s00432-023-05593-2

Improved survival over time with immunotherapy in locally advanced and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas

2023

Journal Article

Giant syringocystadenocarcinoma papilliferum with conjunctival recurrence: Possible Schimmelpenning syndrome with postzygotic G13R HRAS and K601N BRAF signature

Dupont, Aurore, Vergara, Rémi, Pacaud, Alizé, Dequidt, Laure, Dutriaux, Caroline, Saunier, Valentine, Caumont, Charline, Jullie, Marie-Laure, Taïeb, Alain, Morice-Picard, Fanny and Dousset, Léa (2023). Giant syringocystadenocarcinoma papilliferum with conjunctival recurrence: Possible Schimmelpenning syndrome with postzygotic G13R HRAS and K601N BRAF signature. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 37 (12), e1420-e1422. doi: 10.1111/jdv.19346

Giant syringocystadenocarcinoma papilliferum with conjunctival recurrence: Possible Schimmelpenning syndrome with postzygotic G13R HRAS and K601N BRAF signature

2023

Conference Publication

Liquid biopsy assessment in primary cutaneous diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma- leg type

Pham-Ledard, Anne, Guicheney, Marie, Ducharme, Oceane, Caumont, Charline, Gerard, Emilie, Dousset, Lea, Beylot-Barry, Marie, Merlio, Jean-Philippe and Gros, Audrey (2023). Liquid biopsy assessment in primary cutaneous diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma- leg type. 30th European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/ National Cancer Institute / American Association for Cancer Research Symposium (EORTC-NCI-AACR), Dublin Ireland, Nov 13-18, 2018. OXFORD: ELSEVIER SCI LTD. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.113012

Liquid biopsy assessment in primary cutaneous diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma- leg type

2023

Journal Article

Assessment of liquid biopsy in primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma–leg type

Guicheney, Marie, Ducharme, Océane, Caumont, Charline, Gerard, Emilie, Dousset, Léa, Beylot-Barry, Marie, Merlio, Jean-Philippe, Gros, Audrey and Pham-Ledard, Anne (2023). Assessment of liquid biopsy in primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma–leg type. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 143 (7), 1326-1329.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.12.022

Assessment of liquid biopsy in primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma–leg type

2022

Journal Article

Evolution of bone metastases in patients receiving at least three months of checkpoint inhibitors

Gefard-Gontier, E., Markich, R., Zysman, M., Veillon, R., Daste, A., Domblides, C., Sionneau, B., Gross-Goupil, M., Lefort, F., Prey, S., Dutriaux, C., Gerard, E., Dousset, L., Pham-Ledard, A., Beylot-Barry, M., Schaeverbeke, T. and Kostine, M. (2022). Evolution of bone metastases in patients receiving at least three months of checkpoint inhibitors. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, 71 (11), 2609-2618. doi: 10.1007/s00262-022-03180-x

Evolution of bone metastases in patients receiving at least three months of checkpoint inhibitors

2021

Journal Article

Positive association between location of melanoma, ultraviolet signature, tumor mutational burden, and response to anti–PD-1 therapy

Dousset, Léa, Poizeau, Florence, Robert, Caroline, Mansard, Sandrine, Mortier, Laurent, Caumont, Charline, Routier, Émilie, Dupuy, Alain, Rouanet, Jacques, Battistella, Maxime, Greliak, Anna, Cappellen, David, Galibert, Marie-Dominique, Allayous, Clara, Lespagnol, Alexandra, Gerard, Émilie, Kerneuzet, Inès, Roy, Séverine, Dutriaux, Caroline, Merlio, Jean-Philippe, Vergier, Beatrice, Schrock, Alexa B., Lee, Jessica, Ali, Siraj M., Kammerer-Jacquet, Solène-Florence, Lebbé, Céleste, Beylot-Barry, Marie and Boussemart, Lise (2021). Positive association between location of melanoma, ultraviolet signature, tumor mutational burden, and response to anti–PD-1 therapy. JCO Precision Oncology, 5 (5), 1821-1829. doi: 10.1200/PO.21.00084

Positive association between location of melanoma, ultraviolet signature, tumor mutational burden, and response to anti–PD-1 therapy

2021

Journal Article

Analysis of tumor response and clinical factors associated with vitiligo in patients receiving anti–programmed cell death-1 therapies for melanoma: A cross-sectional study

Dousset, Léa, Pacaud, Alize, Barnetche, Thomas, Kostine, Marie, Dutriaux, Caroline, Pham-Ledard, Anne, Beylot-Barry, Marie, Gérard, Emilie, Prey, Sorilla, Andreu, Nicolas, Boniface, Katia and Seneschal, Julien (2021). Analysis of tumor response and clinical factors associated with vitiligo in patients receiving anti–programmed cell death-1 therapies for melanoma: A cross-sectional study. JAAD International, 5, 112-120. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2021.09.002

Analysis of tumor response and clinical factors associated with vitiligo in patients receiving anti–programmed cell death-1 therapies for melanoma: A cross-sectional study

2021

Journal Article

Baseline co-medications may alter the anti-tumoural effect of checkpoint inhibitors as well as the risk of immune-related adverse events

Kostine, Marie, Mauric, Eleonora, Tison, Alice, Barnetche, Thomas, Barre, Aurélien, Nikolski, Macha, Rouxel, Léa, Dutriaux, Caroline, Dousset, Léa, Prey, Sorilla, Beylot-Barry, Marie, Seneschal, Julien, Veillon, Rémi, Vergnenegre, Charlotte, Daste, Amaury, Domblides, Charlotte, Sionneau, Baptiste, Gross-Goupil, Marine, Ravaud, Alain, Forcade, Edouard and Schaeverbeke, Thierry (2021). Baseline co-medications may alter the anti-tumoural effect of checkpoint inhibitors as well as the risk of immune-related adverse events. European Journal of Cancer, 157, 474-484. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.08.036

Baseline co-medications may alter the anti-tumoural effect of checkpoint inhibitors as well as the risk of immune-related adverse events

2021

Journal Article

Predictive Factors of Non-Response to Vismodegib in Locally Advanced Basal-Cell Carcinoma

Marescassier, Hélène, Dousset, Leá, Beylot-Barry, Marie, Célérier, Philippe, Vaillant, Loïc, Bedane, Christophe, Leclère, Franck, Wierzbicka-Hainaut, Ewa and Masson Regnault, Marie (2021). Predictive Factors of Non-Response to Vismodegib in Locally Advanced Basal-Cell Carcinoma. Dermatology, 237 (6), 1023-1028. doi: 10.1159/000512889

Predictive Factors of Non-Response to Vismodegib in Locally Advanced Basal-Cell Carcinoma

2021

Journal Article

Complete response in a patient with advanced melanoma following anti-PD-1 therapy is associated with a high frequency of melanoma-infiltrating CXCR3+ resident memory CD8+ T cells and multiple chemokine pathways

Dousset, L., Martins, C., Jacquemin, C., Amico, S., Schatton, T., Boniface, K. and Seneschal, J. (2021). Complete response in a patient with advanced melanoma following anti-PD-1 therapy is associated with a high frequency of melanoma-infiltrating CXCR3+ resident memory CD8+ T cells and multiple chemokine pathways. British Journal of Dermatology, 185 (3), 663-666. doi: 10.1111/bjd.20405

Complete response in a patient with advanced melanoma following anti-PD-1 therapy is associated with a high frequency of melanoma-infiltrating CXCR3+ resident memory CD8+ T cells and multiple chemokine pathways

2021

Journal Article

Clinicopathologic analysis of trichoblastoma and comparison with nodular basal cell carcinoma

Bourlond, F., Battistella, M., Amici, J. M., Dousset, L., Vergier, B., Beylot-Barry, M. and Cribier, B. (2021). Clinicopathologic analysis of trichoblastoma and comparison with nodular basal cell carcinoma. Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie, 148 (3), 177-182. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2021.03.003

Clinicopathologic analysis of trichoblastoma and comparison with nodular basal cell carcinoma

2021

Journal Article

Non-acral skin manifestations during the COVID-19 epidemic: COVIDSKIN study by the French Society of Dermatology

Guelimi, R., Salle, R., Dousset, L., Assier, H., Fourati, S., Bhujoo, Z., Barbarot, S., Boulard, C., Cazanave, C., Colin, A., Kostrzewa, E., Lesort, C., Levy Roy, A., Lombart, F., Marco Bonnet, J., Marty, L., Monfort, J. B., Riffaud, L., Samimi, M., Tardieu, M., Sbidian, E., Wolkenstein, P., Le Cleach, L. and Beylot-Barry, M. (2021). Non-acral skin manifestations during the COVID-19 epidemic: COVIDSKIN study by the French Society of Dermatology. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 35 (9), e539-e541. doi: 10.1111/jdv.17322

Non-acral skin manifestations during the COVID-19 epidemic: COVIDSKIN study by the French Society of Dermatology

2021

Journal Article

Real world safety outcomes using cemiplimab for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Valentin, Julie, Gérard, Emilie, Ferte, Thomas, Prey, Sorilla, Dousset, Léa, Dutriaux, Caroline, Beylot-Barry, Marie and Pham-Ledard, Anne (2021). Real world safety outcomes using cemiplimab for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 12 (7), 1110-1113. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2021.02.026

Real world safety outcomes using cemiplimab for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

2021

Journal Article

Clinical factors predictive for histological aggressiveness of basal cell carcinoma: A prospective study of 2274 cases

Amici, J. M., Dousset, L., Battistella, M., Vergier, B., Bailly, J. Y., Cogrel, O., Gusdorf, L., Alfaro, C., Ezzedine, K., Cribier, B. and Beylot-Barry, M. (2021). Clinical factors predictive for histological aggressiveness of basal cell carcinoma: A prospective study of 2274 cases. Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie, 148 (1), 23-27. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2019.10.028

Clinical factors predictive for histological aggressiveness of basal cell carcinoma: A prospective study of 2274 cases

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    Skin Microbiome and Toxicity analysis in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: the SkinMicroTox study
    TRI Leading Innovations through New Collaborations Scheme
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Lea Dousset is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Evaluating the impact of social determinants of health on skin cancer outcomes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani

Enquiries

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communications@uq.edu.au